Hyderabad's 150 wards yet to get ad hoc committees to oversee works

 Hyderabad: Three years on since the last civic body polls, the government is yet to constitute ward committees across the city’s 150 wards despite repeated representations to the state government.

While Opposition members claim it is an effort to clamp down on them, civil society members termed the delay a “premediated intent” to set aside potential problems from ward committees, each of which comprises around 60 members, including youngsters, women, senior citizens, NGOs and important personalities.

V. Padmanabha Reddy, the secretary of the Forum for Good Governance, said, “If this committee is installed, there will be more transparency, and wrong practices can be controlled to some extent. For example, each year GHMC spends around Rs 30 crore on desilting nalas. If these committees are formed, they will easily identify vulnerable areas.”

He said, “According to Section 17 of the Telangana Municipalities Act 2019, in every municipality, ward committees should be constituted. Ward committees are expected to help the GHMC in collection of property taxes, help in selection of beneficiaries for welfare programmes and in inspecting infrastructure works.”

“This (delaying constitution) is with a premeditated intention. As ward committees consist of residents, they will be bringing out issues and airing grievances, including questioning contractors if works are not done properly.”

Dr Surekha Om Prakash, GHMC deputy floor leader for BJP, said: “From our party, there are 43 corporators, we have given multiple representations to the Mayor and the authorities concerned to form ward committees, but there has been no attempt in this regard even three years after (the last polls).”